Adjustment means for reclining back chairs



April 4, 1961 J. J. MIR-RIONE ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR RECLINING BACK CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.

INVENTOR. yw fl M40 Z 4%Q firrdi/vf) April 4, 1961 J. .1. MIRRIO E ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR RECLINING BACK CHAIRS Filed Jan. 2, S 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTUF/VEV Un ed Sta s P ten ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR RECLINING BACK CHAIRS James John Mirrione, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to LED.

Manufacturing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 784,516 2 Claims. (Cl. 155-159) This invention relates to the adjustment of reclining backs in furniture of the chaise longue type. The invention is particularly directed to so-called lawn furniture which is formed essentially of frame tubing with flexible plastic strips interlaced across the frame.

Generally speaking, such adjustment means are broadly old. However, the adjustment means of this invention has advantages not shown in the art.

Further, the adjustment parts of this invention are rendered durable in spite of the fact that the frame work of the chairs is of relatively soft aluminum.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a chair which embodies the latching or adjustment means of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly broken away and in elevation and disclosing the essential latch mechanism;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but disclosing the disengagement of the latch as during adjustment thereof;

Figure 4 is a view as taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view as taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view as taken along the line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the chair comprises a reclining back 10 which is pivotally connected at 11 to the seat 12 of the chair body, said body comprising said seat 12, footrest 13', and footrest support 14. Substantially horizontally elongated arms 15 which serve as arm rests are connected as by pivot 16 to reclining back 10.

It will be understood, as stated above, that the chair is generally provided with interlaced plastic strips across both the back and the body. Thus the back is of inverted U-shape with plastic strips connected both vertically and horizontally thereacross. These parts have not been shown herein because they are not a part of this invention and are of course, purely conventional. The seat and footrest are similarly equipped with crossed plastic strips.

The chair is further formed with supporting rails or arms 17 and 18 which together are of substantially inverted Vform, their mutual apex being disposed at the upper end of the junction of said arms. These arms 17 and 18, as will be observed, are inclined relative to the body of the chair. A bracket 19 is connected to the upper end of the inclined arms 17 and 18.

Bracket 19 comprises front section 1901 and rear section 1%, said bracket sections being connected as by rivets 20 to both of the inclined arms 17 and 18. The brackets thus maintain the arms in a fixed, substantially inverted V-shaped position.

Bracket section 19a is concave-convex at its upper end, and formed with an upper central arm 21 terminated at its upper end with a hook 22 which is outwardly directed. By the term foutwardly directed, I mean that the hook faces away from the occupant of the chair.

Elongated arms 15, which serve as arm rests, are provided with alower slot 23 into which enters the book 22 so that said hook is disposed within the hollow of tubular arm 15. In order to prevent disengagement of the hook end from the tubular arm 15, the base of the hook 22 is provided with slots 24 and 25 into which is clipped C-shaped clip 26 of resilient metal. Clip 26 simply serves as an enlargement which prevents disassembly of the hook 22 from within the hollow arm 15. Slot 23 permits arm 21 to slide along the length of arm 15. During adjustment, the clip 26 will rest against the inside of the slot whereupon the hook 22 will be disengaged as will hereinafter be set forth and as shown in Figure 3.

The means for engaging the hook 22 comprises a loeating plate 27 which frictionally fits within tubular arm 15 and is, in any event, secured thereto as by riveted pin 28. Locating plate 27 is elongated and is formed with a series of aligned axial openings 29 into which hook 22 may enter selectively so as to lock the arm in a position of desired adjustment for determining the inclination of the back.

Part of the material which is cut away to form openings 29 is formed into upper rolls 30 which effect smooth engagement with hook 22. Further, the rearward edge 31 of hook 22 is rounded. The purpose thereof is to effect smooth sliding movement of the hook against the rearward edges of the openings in the event that such hook touches said edges, as often happens during rearward adjustment of the back.

The operation of the chair is extremely simple. If rearward inclination of the back is desired, the user will place his hands on one or both of the hollow arms 15 andwill lift the same. This will result in the hook leaving the aligned openings 29 into the position shown in Figure 3. Thereafter, the weight of the users back will cause the back of the chair to move rearwardly. When the user releases the arms 15, the hook 22 will once more fall into one of the slots 29.

If the user desires the back to come forwardly, he likewise lifts the arms 15 and pulls them forwardly. Thereafter he will release the arms 15 whereupon the hook 22 will enter a selected one of the openings 29.

The frame of the chair is of aluminum tubing. However, the locating plate 27 and bracket 19 are of steel, preferably hard tempered so as to avoid undue wear.

There has been shown what is now considered a pre ferred embodiment of the invention but it is obvious that changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. Back adjustment means in a chair having a body and a reclining back pivotally connected thereto, said means comprising a substantially horizontal elongated arm, said arm being hollow and tubular and connected to and extending outwardly from said back so as to serve as an arm rest, a'pair of inclined arms connected to the body of the chair and serving to support the rear of the chair, a bracket connected to the upper end of said inclined arms, an outwardly directed hook formed at the upper end of said bracket, an elongated substantially horizontal locating plate fixed disposed axially within said hollow arm, said locating plate being formed with a series of aligned, axial openings, said hollow arm being formed with a bottom, longitudinal slot into which said hook slidably enters and selectively engages any one of said aligned openings for determining the inclination of said back, said hollow arm having the inner end thereof pivoted to said back so as to be liftable relative thereto and to said body, lifting of said hollow arm releasing said hook from said openings so as to permit adjustment of said inclination, and a spring clip embracing said bracket within said hollow arm adjacent to said hook for locking a 3 said hook into sliding engagement with said slot and preventing withdrawal of said hook therefrom.

2. Back adjustment means as in claim 1 including means on said bracket for lockingsaid hook into sliding engagement with said slot so as to prevent withdrawal of said hook therefrom, said hook having the main body thereof inclined forwardly and having a rounded rearward edge for facilitating sliding movement thereof along said locating plate between said aligned openings, and said aligned openings being defined at each longitudinal end thereof by integral rolls disposed upwardly of the body I 4 of said locating plate and complementarily retaining said hook when engaged therewith References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,590 Parry Sept. 3, 1940 2,690,793 Pedersen et al Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 815,391 Germany Oct. 1, 1951 517,560 Italy Mar. 1. 1955 

